Calendar of Events

Something extraordinary is coming to Asheville this winter! The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are elated to announce the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study. Visiting on their first North American excursion, these twelve interactive troll sculptures will explore the Arboretum, embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind.

Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these friendly and fanciful sculptures evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue as they study our small, intricate and inventive ways of life in Western North Carolina. Standing seven to nine feet tall and lovingly described by the artist as “Baby Trolls”, the creatures are crafted from materials like fallen branches, wooden pallets and twigs.

Through their observations, the trolls reveal a fresh perspective on what makes us human, sparking curiosity and laughter in visitors of all ages.

Only cost is the parking fee. No other admission fees.

Grovewood Gallery proudly presents Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style, a group exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of the American Arts and Crafts movement. On view from October 18 through December 31, 2025, this curated showcase brings together the work of four contemporary makers who honor traditional craftsmanship while offering fresh perspectives on timeless forms.

Featured artists include ceramicist Leslie Green Guilbault, a Roycroft Artisan whose pottery blends nature, myth, and metallic luster; blacksmith Paul Garrett, known for his handcrafted metalwork and luminous mica lamps inspired by early 20th-century design; furniture maker Timothy Livingston, whose heirloom-quality pieces reflect a deep reverence for honest materials and joinery; and painter Shawn Krueger, a Roycroft Master Artisan whose landscapes echo the quiet mood and tonal beauty of historic plein air work.

Firestorm Books on Haywood Road is rebooting its annual holiday craft pop-up series, now in its sixth year! Featuring the work of 16+ local artists, this event will be a fundraiser for the Gaza Soup Kitchen and highlights affordable, giftable items that can only be found in Asheville.

This year’s craft pop-up will include two dates: Saturday, December 13th and Sunday, December 14th (the start of Hanukkah, ten days before Xmas Eve). Beginning at 11am and ending at 4pm, each date will have a different selection of artists showcasing baked goods, fiber arts, ceramics, art prints, jewelry, and more. The pop-up will take place outdoors at 1022 Haywood Road in West Asheville, or inside the bookstore at the same address in case of inclement weather.

Participating artists have committed to donate 25% of at least the first $250 in sales made to the Gaza Soup Kitchen, a grassroots NGO feeding thousands daily in Gaza. Attendees will have additional opportunities to support the lifesaving work of the humanitarian aid organization. More information on the Gaza Soup Kitchen can be found at https://gazasoupkitchen.org.

Firestorm Books on Haywood Road is rebooting its annual holiday craft pop-up series, now in its sixth year! Featuring the work of 16+ local artists, this event will be a fundraiser for the Gaza Soup Kitchen and highlights affordable, giftable items that can only be found in Asheville.

This year’s craft pop-up will include two dates: Saturday, December 13th and Sunday, December 14th (the start of Hanukkah, ten days before Xmas Eve). Beginning at 11am and ending at 4pm, each date will have a different selection of artists showcasing baked goods, fiber arts, ceramics, art prints, jewelry, and more. The pop-up will take place outdoors at 1022 Haywood Road in West Asheville, or inside the bookstore at the same address in case of inclement weather.

Participating artists have committed to donate 25% of at least the first $250 in sales made to the Gaza Soup Kitchen, a grassroots NGO feeding thousands daily in Gaza. Attendees will have additional opportunities to support the lifesaving work of the humanitarian aid organization. More information on the Gaza Soup Kitchen can be found at https://gazasoupkitchen.org.

Firestorm Books on Haywood Road is rebooting its annual holiday craft pop-up series, now in its sixth year! Featuring the work of 16+ local artists, this event will be a fundraiser for the Gaza Soup Kitchen and highlights affordable, giftable items that can only be found in Asheville.

This year’s craft pop-up will include two dates: Saturday, December 13th and Sunday, December 14th (the start of Hanukkah, ten days before Xmas Eve). Beginning at 11am and ending at 4pm, each date will have a different selection of artists showcasing baked goods, fiber arts, ceramics, art prints, jewelry, and more. The pop-up will take place outdoors at 1022 Haywood Road in West Asheville, or inside the bookstore at the same address in case of inclement weather.

Participating artists have committed to donate 25% of at least the first $250 in sales made to the Gaza Soup Kitchen, a grassroots NGO feeding thousands daily in Gaza. Attendees will have additional opportunities to support the lifesaving work of the humanitarian aid organization. More information on the Gaza Soup Kitchen can be found at https://gazasoupkitchen.org.

A pop up vegan market featuring vegan vendors
Come join us at the Bridge & Tunnel Coffee Cafe at the Coman Center at A-B Tech for a wonderful day filled with good food and good people. We are so excited to have local vegan vendors get together and show you what they’ve got. You can stop by and get some treats to go or, even better, hang out with us for a while. There will be plenty of seating for eating and socializing. Find out more on Instagram and Facebook @vgnmktThe event is indoors and is Rain or Shine. There will be some food trucks right out front.Hours are 11:00 – 3:00.Admission is free and everyone is welcome. It’s a vegan party & you’re invited!

Women of the Pacific Northwest celebrates the voices, visions and material mastery of female artists working today, with roots from this rich and progressive region. Through the execution of disparate media from bronze, steel, glass, tin, plaster, mylar, printmaking, hair nets, cloth, rubber, wax to paint, these artists have achieved inventive, creative practices originating from critical, generative, inquisition of natural, social or subliminal forces. This exhibition highlights a group of female artists working in diverse media creating art that explores connections to place, whether sociological, environmental or spiritual, in a region supportive of equality, ecology and enterprise. These artists are among today’s pioneers, interpreting universality through personal observation and inventing poetic, transcendent works inspiring greater, pluralistic understanding, connecting us to one another and to the world around us.

Featured artists:

Victoria Adams, Drie Chapek, Jaq Chartier, Susan Dory, Betsy Ebys, Ann Gardner, Emily Gherard, Estuko Ichikawa, Lisa Jarrett, Brenda Mallory, Wendy Red Star, Katy Stone, Susan Zoccola, Marie Watt, and Julie Speidel.

Holiday Open Studio Party with Shopping & Special Guest Artist
Local Gifts including Ceramics, Accessories, Home Goods + Vintage Clothing

115 Elk Mountain Rd, Woodfin NC
Sunday, December 14th
12-4:00pm

Featuring gifts, home decor & accessories from@LOOMImports, pottery from @junopottery
And vintage clothing from:
@Sure.Please
@Lucca_Collective
@Gennypopshop

Additional parking at Woodfin Elementary

Included with admission

Capture that classic Christmas moment you and your children will never outgrow. Afterward, explore all that Antler Hill Village has to offer: ice cream at The Creamery, friendly animals at our Farmyard, plus Pisgah Playground, shops, restaurants, and an award-winning Winery.

Dates available:

November 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 28-30

December 6-7, 13-14, 17-24

December 11-21, 2025

Thursday, 12/11 at 7:30 (pay what you can available 11/27)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturday at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm

Director: Abigail Dover Thomas

Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Rating: PG due to adult content and mild language.

Four days before Christmas in Tinsel, Texas, a colorful parade of eccentric guests arrive at the Snowflake Inn and deck the halls with holiday hilarity. Trina, the harried yet upbeat innkeeper of this B&B, has more than she can handle coping with these nuttier-than-a-fruitcake lodgers. Hoyt and his sister, Donna Jo, make the mistake of trying to end a thirty-year feud between their curmudgeonly aunts, Ennis and Della, with sidesplitting results. Ainsley and Lenora, self-involved actors from a lower-than-low-budget touring production of A Christmas Carol, descend on the Inn to fulfill a promise, leaving comedic chaos in their wake. Add to this Yuletide mayhem an ill-advised romantic rendezvous between Mrs. Claus and one of Santa’s elves. This demanding guest refuses to leave, not to mention a tipsy housekeeper, and it will take more than a kiss under the mistletoe to keep Trina’s spirits merry and bright. But a spur-of-the-moment Christmas Eve wedding that brings together the fabulous Futrelle sisters—Honey Raye, Twink, Frankie, and Rhonda Lynn—and their best friend, Raynerd, takes a surprising and delightful turn that leads to a laugh-’till-your-sides-ache climax, changing all their lives forever.

The Blue Ridge Ringers announce “An International Christmas” concert series celebrating the holiday season. This concert series will include holiday selections from around the world with varied styles.

Jim Brickman’s distinctive piano style and captivating live performances have revolutionized the popularity of instrumental music, making him a driving force behind modern American music. The hit-making songwriter is the best-selling solo pianist of our time, earning 22 Number One albums and 32 Top 20 Radio Singles. He’s garnered two Grammy nominations, Gospel Music’s Dove Award, two SESAC Songwriter of the Year Awards, a Canadian Country Music Award, and is a member of Pandora’s “2 Billion Streams” Club.

Celebrate the magic of the season at the 5th Annual Winter Wonder Walk—an enchanting outdoor story experience where live theater meets a whimsical walk through the woods! Created by Asheville Plays and hosted by the Adventure Center of Asheville, this immersive journey guides guests through the Kingdom of Winterland, where each page of the story comes to life with delightful characters and heartwarming surprises. This family-friendly event has been created with everyone in minde, no matter your age or what you may celebrate during the winter holiday season. Winter Wonder Walk includes the outdoor storywalk, a heated holiday tent featuring a local vendor market, a kids’ play area, and several tasty concession and beverage options. Guests ages 4+ can also enjoy the Treetops Adventure Park Glow Trail, aglow with thousands of twinkling lights. Every ticket purchased helps spread joy even further—each one supports MANNA FoodBank and their mission to feed our community.Kids 12 and younger can earn a free general admission ticket by participating in our “S’Mitten With Books” reading program! Bundle up and bring the whole family—it’s the perfect way to make magical memories and give back this holiday season!
2025 Dates: November 29 & 30 and December 6, 7, 13, 14
Festivities begin at 6 PM | Winter Wonder Walk opens at 6:30 PM
Tickets & FAQs at www.winterwonderwalk.com

Celebrate the magic of the season at the 5th Annual Winter Wonder Walk—an enchanting outdoor story experience where live theater meets a whimsical walk through the woods! Created by Asheville Plays and hosted by the Adventure Center of Asheville, this immersive journey guides guests through the Kingdom of Winterland, where each page of the story comes to life with delightful characters and heartwarming surprises. This family-friendly event has been created with everyone in minde, no matter your age or what you may celebrate during the winter holiday season. Winter Wonder Walk includes the outdoor storywalk, a heated holiday tent featuring a local vendor market, a kids’ play area, and several tasty concession and beverage options. Guests ages 4+ can also enjoy the Treetops Adventure Park Glow Trail, aglow with thousands of twinkling lights. Every ticket purchased helps spread joy even further—each one supports MANNA FoodBank and their mission to feed our community.Kids 12 and younger can earn a free general admission ticket by participating in our “S’Mitten With Books” reading program! Bundle up and bring the whole family—it’s the perfect way to make magical memories and give back this holiday season!
2025 Dates: November 29 & 30 and December 6, 7, 13, 14
Festivities begin at 6 PM | Winter Wonder Walk opens at 6:30 PM
Tickets & FAQs at www.winterwonderwalk.com

Something extraordinary is coming to Asheville this winter! The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are elated to announce the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study. Visiting on their first North American excursion, these twelve interactive troll sculptures will explore the Arboretum, embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind.

Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these friendly and fanciful sculptures evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue as they study our small, intricate and inventive ways of life in Western North Carolina. Standing seven to nine feet tall and lovingly described by the artist as “Baby Trolls”, the creatures are crafted from materials like fallen branches, wooden pallets and twigs.

Through their observations, the trolls reveal a fresh perspective on what makes us human, sparking curiosity and laughter in visitors of all ages.

Only cost is the parking fee. No other admission fees.

Grovewood Gallery proudly presents Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style, a group exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of the American Arts and Crafts movement. On view from October 18 through December 31, 2025, this curated showcase brings together the work of four contemporary makers who honor traditional craftsmanship while offering fresh perspectives on timeless forms.

Featured artists include ceramicist Leslie Green Guilbault, a Roycroft Artisan whose pottery blends nature, myth, and metallic luster; blacksmith Paul Garrett, known for his handcrafted metalwork and luminous mica lamps inspired by early 20th-century design; furniture maker Timothy Livingston, whose heirloom-quality pieces reflect a deep reverence for honest materials and joinery; and painter Shawn Krueger, a Roycroft Master Artisan whose landscapes echo the quiet mood and tonal beauty of historic plein air work.

PERFORMANCE: Johnny Loves Johann – Music and Dance
With violinist Johnny Gandelsman and choreographers Melissa Toogood and John Heginbotham
Monday, December 15, 2025 at 7PM
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center {120 College Street}
TICKETS – $15 General Admission / $10 for BMCM+AC members + Students w/ID

Join us Monday, December 15 at BMCM+AC for a one-night-only performance featuring world-renowned violinist Johnny Gandelsman and internationally acclaimed choreographer/dancers John Heginbotham and Melissa Toogood.

In this intimate, museum-scale version of Johnny Loves Johann, Gandelsman will perform Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 with new choreography by Melissa Toogood and Cello Suite No. 4 with new choreography by John Heginbotham. This unique program offers a powerful glimpse into the larger evening-length work, bringing together music and dance in fresh, unexpected ways. With Gandelsman’s folk- and dance-inspired interpretation at its core, Toogood and Heginbotham infuse Bach’s timeless compositions with humanity, curiosity, and contemporary movement—transforming them into a vibrant celebration of connection and community.
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About the Program

At its heart, Johnny Loves Johann is a tribute to community – both among the artists themselves and with the audience members who join them on this journey. By inviting these remarkable choreographers to bring their personal and cultural narratives to Bach’s music, the project creates a tapestry of voices and perspectives that reflect the shared human experience.

Bach’s music is often put in the context of order and notions of perfection. While we can enjoy hearing it this way, it can also limit our experience of this music as the celebration of humanity and beautiful opportunity for connection that it is.

Gandelsman’s interpretation of Bach’s Cello Suites is special in its folk music- and dance-like qualities. Building upon that, the Johnny Loves Johann collaborators—each known for visceral, big-hearted art-making—re-visit the suites by leading with their humanity and curiosity.

Something extraordinary is coming to Asheville this winter! The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are elated to announce the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study. Visiting on their first North American excursion, these twelve interactive troll sculptures will explore the Arboretum, embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind.

Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these friendly and fanciful sculptures evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue as they study our small, intricate and inventive ways of life in Western North Carolina. Standing seven to nine feet tall and lovingly described by the artist as “Baby Trolls”, the creatures are crafted from materials like fallen branches, wooden pallets and twigs.

Through their observations, the trolls reveal a fresh perspective on what makes us human, sparking curiosity and laughter in visitors of all ages.

Only cost is the parking fee. No other admission fees.

Grovewood Gallery proudly presents Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style, a group exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of the American Arts and Crafts movement. On view from October 18 through December 31, 2025, this curated showcase brings together the work of four contemporary makers who honor traditional craftsmanship while offering fresh perspectives on timeless forms.

Featured artists include ceramicist Leslie Green Guilbault, a Roycroft Artisan whose pottery blends nature, myth, and metallic luster; blacksmith Paul Garrett, known for his handcrafted metalwork and luminous mica lamps inspired by early 20th-century design; furniture maker Timothy Livingston, whose heirloom-quality pieces reflect a deep reverence for honest materials and joinery; and painter Shawn Krueger, a Roycroft Master Artisan whose landscapes echo the quiet mood and tonal beauty of historic plein air work.